NFL Fans: This Is the Year for Your Team! (No It Isn’t.)

The draft is over, and free agents have been signed. Training camps are springing to life around the country. It’s the peak moment for a feeling often in short supply among N.F.L. fans: optimism. There’s no reason all 32 teams can’t overachieve this year, right?

Here’s a look at the league through the rose-colored glasses of late July by Victor Mather, and a somewhat more jaundiced view from Benjamin Hoffman:

A.F.C. West

Denver Broncos The Broncos are on top of the pile as Super Bowl champions, and Von Miller’s contract is locked up. The retirement of Peyton Manning should not be too big a blow, as his numbers were anemic most of last season.

Considering how limited Manning was in the Super Bowl, the Broncos essentially won a championship without a quarterback. If you liked that trick, you are going to love the team’s following it up by losing some significant players to free agency and replacing Manning with Mark Sanchez.

• • •

Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs looked as good as anyone, ripping off 10 straight wins to conclude last season. Running back Jamaal Charles is set to return from injury to make the team even better.

The N.F.L. has never been sentimental, but the Chiefs have become the anti-Hallmark card after Eric Berry fought his way all the way back from Hodgkin’s lymphoma to establish himself as one of the best defensive backs in the league and the team rewarded him with a protracted salary dispute that ended with his being franchise-tagged for the season.

• • •

Oakland Raiders They went out and signed guard Kelechi Osemele plus a strong defensive crew. Sean Smith, Reggie Nelson and the rookie Karl Joseph could take the secondary from good to excellent.

With marked improvement last season, and several emerging stars, the Raiders appear to be on their way to legitimacy. Luckily, Mark Davis is providing plenty of distractions with talk of relocating the franchise, making things as difficult as possible for his players.

• • •

San Diego Chargers The Chargers grabbed receiver Travis Benjamin from the Browns to catch passes from the ageless Philip Rivers, who led the league in completions and attempts for the first time in his career.

When the first thing mentioned by most people in relation to your team’s chances at improvement is the relative weakness of the other teams in your division, you know you are just a shade better than irrelevant.

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New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (left) is expected to start the first four games of the season as Tom Brady (right) serves a suspension.CreditSteven Senne/Associated Press

A.F.C. East

New England Patriots The nightmare of Deflategate is finally over for the Patriots, and Tom Brady is good to go for the final 12 games and the playoffs. His four-game suspension will help the team determine whether Jimmy Garoppolo is a long-term prospect to replace him.

Brady knows all about handsome unknown backups thriving when given an opportunity, but any struggle by Garoppolo to adapt to a starting role could dig the team a rather deep hole.

• • •

New York Jets The Jets solved their chief off-season quandary by re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick. They are well positioned for an injury setback at quarterback with Geno Smith and the rookie Christian Hackenberg. All three will have the pleasure of throwing to Brandon Marshall.

Fitzpatrick played pretty well but failed to make the playoffs. It was a familiar feeling, as he has never appeared in the postseason and spent the past off-season being told by his own team that he is not nearly as good as he thinks he is.

• • •

Buffalo Bills The sky’s the limit for quarterback Tyrod Taylor of the Bills after his breakthrough performance in his first year as a starter, passing well and scaring defenses with his running ability. The running game looks strong again with LeSean McCoy returning.

Rob Ryan was at the helm of terrible defenses in New Orleans and Dallas, so clearly he is the person bestsuited to right the ship in Buffalo alongside his brother, Rex, who despite his many successes has always been known more for his off-field drama than anything else.

• • •

Miami Dolphins The young coach Adam Gase is poised to turn the Dolphins around: He worked wonders with Jay Cutler in Chicago and can do the same with Ryan Tannehill. Miami straight-up stole offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil with the 13th pick of the draft after other teams were scared off by a silly video of college high jinks.

Olivier Vernon is gone, Cameron Wake is working his way back from a devastating injury, and Ndamukong Suh’s production last season was nearly as bad as his attitude. The Dolphins are paid like a veteran-laden playoff team, but they rarely look like one.

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The Cleveland Browns signed Robert Griffin III to compete for the starting quarterback role.CreditTony Dejak/Associated Press

A.F.C. North

Cincinnati Bengals Andy Dalton was outstanding again for the Bengals, who are finally bound to win in the playoffs after five straight years of wild-card losses.

Dalton lost two receivers and his offensive coordinator, and no one knows when Tyler Eifert, perhaps his favorite target, will be at 100 percent following ankle surgery.

• • •

Pittsburgh Steelers Behind Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, the Steelers had the second-best offense in the conference, trailing only New England. The team might well have gone all the way had Brown not been hurt and missed the playoff game against Denver.

Not content with last season’s two-game suspension for violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy, Le’Veon Bell may be in line for a four-game ban to start this season after missing drug tests. That is nothing compared to Martavis Bryant, who will miss the entire year.

• • •

Baltimore Ravens The ace safety Eric Weddle arrives from San Diego, and the Ravens’ defense appears to be getting back to the glory days. The team should also return to consistency with Joe Flacco after starting four quarterbacks last season.

Some people may love the movie “Wild Hogs,” but fielding a team with bunch of famous old players who are well past their prime and just seeing how things work out is not generally an effective strategy in the N.F.L.

• • •

Clevelend Browns Johnny Manziel and his soap opera are gone from the Browns. In his place is the exciting Robert Griffin III.

The Redskins did not consider Griffin to be good enough to even have him suit up as a backup quarterback. The Browns have people believing he is a franchise savior. It is good for Cleveland that the Cavaliers and the Indians have done so well recently.

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The Tennessee Titans traded for running back DeMarco Murray during the off-season.CreditMark Humphrey/Associated Press

A.F.C. South

Houston Texans A starter of seven games for last year’s Super Bowl winners, quarterback Brock Osweiler chose to join the Texans. The team also signed running back Lamar Miller from the Dolphins. And J. J. Watt returns to terrify opposing offenses.

The Broncos thought so much of Osweiler that they preferred to put a severely limited version of Peyton Manning into their starting lineup to hand off the ball and hope for the best.

• • •

Indianapolis Colts After a disappointing season that was plagued by injury, quarterback Andrew Luck should return to the 40-touchdown numbers of 2014.

Before Luck lacerated a kidney and missed a large chunk of last season, he was playing poorly and insisting he was not injured. The faith the team showed in giving Luck a gigantic new contract while declaring last season to be a fluke was commendable, as long as it actually was a fluke.

• • •

Jacksonville Jaguars They picked up the Super Bowl champion defensive tackle Malik Jackson and had a well-reviewed draft. Blake Bortles had the season’s longest completion, at 90 yards, and could be ready for a breakthrough in his third year as starter.

There is optimism around the league for the Jaguars, but it is not hard to seem vastly improved when your team’s big off-season acquisitions in recent years were a video-game tent for bored fans and a very large scoreboard.

• • •

Tennessee Titans DeMarco Murray did not fit in Philly, but he could return to his huge Dallas numbers this year with the Titans. His running should open up the pass for the second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota.

After signing a huge deal with Philadelphia last year, Murray did far more complaining than running. Apparently even he did not know that his previous success had largely been a result of the superb Dallas offensive line.

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The Giants promoted Ben McAdoo to head coach and signed defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) from the Miami Dolphins in free agency.CreditFrank Franklin II/Associated Press

N.F.C. East

Washington Redskins After two horrific years, the Redskins broke through with a division title last season. And now they have added the superstar cornerback Josh Norman from the Panthers.

But there is a reason few quarterbacks have ever played with the franchise tag. Any player so tagged is theoretically too valuable not to lock up with a long-term deal. Enter Kirk Cousins, who has essentially been given a year to prove last season was not a fluke.

• • •

Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles have accomplished addition by subtraction, shedding Coach Chip Kelly, who was better suited to the college game, and the poor signing of DeMarco Murray. The first-rounder Carson Wentz is ready to deputize for, and eventually replace, the competent Sam Bradford at quarterback.

For now, the best case is that the team remains competitive enough for Wentz not to get bored and tune out.

• • •

New York Giants The Giants signed their way to an elite defense, adding defensive tackle Damon Harrison from the Jets, cornerback Janoris Jenkins from the Rams and defensive end Olivier Vernon from the Dolphins. New Coach Ben McAdoo will keep the offense up to snuff, and Eli Manning is sure to have one more golden year in him.

A good sign that your major off-season free-agent splash might have been too big a risk is when The New York Post runs a story with the headline “Olivier Vernon: Why I Won’t Be $85M Giants Bust.”

• • •

Dallas Cowboys After playing just four games last season for the Cowboys because of an injury, Tony Romo is ready to return to his customary health and excellence. Receiver Dez Bryant is also back after missing significant time last year. The No. 4 overall selection Ezekial Elliott of Ohio State could be a once-in-a-generation running-back talent.

Hoping that Romo can stay on the field enough to make up for the team’s depleted defense is seemingly not the best strategy, given that he broke his clavicle twice last season and has not played 16 games in a season since 2012.

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Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy said he would take his weight seriously this season.CreditMatt Ludtke/Associated Press

N.F.C. North

Minnesota Vikings Last year’s Vikings shocked everyone by going 11-5. Their offensive line is often called the best in the game. Teddy Bridgewater is still only 23 and figures to keep improving. The defense is also first-rate, having given up the second-fewest points in the conference.

But as good as Adrian Peterson looked last season, when he happened to be coming off an involuntary yearlong vacation, the fact remains that he is 31 and plays a position where 29 is old.

• • •

Green Bay Packers The nonpareil Aaron Rodgers of the Packers will have more to work with this year: Receiver Jordy Nelson is back after missing all of last season, and running back Eddie Lacy looks trim after being faulted for carrying too much weight last year. The team also has the easiest schedule in the league.

That Lacy has spent the last several months insisting that he now cares about his conditioning and that he will take his weight seriously this season is plenty of cause for skepticism that it can be so easily fixed.

• • •

Detroit Lions After a 1-7 first half, the Lions made an assistant-coach shuffle and roared back to finish the season 6-2. They can carry that form into 2016. Marvin Jones is a solid signing at receiver.

Jones has the small task of replacing Calvin Johnson, the man they nicknamed Megatron, who played only nine seasons but was so great that he may be a Hall of Famer anyway.

• • •

Chicago Bears The linebacker signings of Danny Trevathan from the Broncos and Jerrell Freeman from the Colts could revitalize the Bears defense.

Things might not be so happy on offense, where the team’s best skill player is unquestionably Alshon Jeffery. He may also be the most discontented, as the team failed to sign him to a long-term deal, forcing him to play this season under the franchise tag.

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The New Orleans Saints signed a new passing target for quarterback Drew Brees (9) in tight end Coby Fleener.CreditChris Tilley/Associated Press

N.F.C. South

Carolina Panthers The Panthers had one of the best regular seasons in league history, with Cam Newton winning the Most Valuable Player Award. And that was without the injured Kelvin Benjamin, who will be back to catch those Newton passes after missing a year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. 15-1? How about 16-0?

One of the Panthers’ biggest weaknesses last season was depth at cornerback, where they were desperate enough to bring Cortland Finnegan out of retirement in hope of plugging the holes. Their big move of the off-season was releasing Josh Norman, a first-team All-Pro cornerback.

• • •

Atlanta Falcons The Falcons have added some useful pieces, like center Alex Mack from the Browns and receiver Mohamed Sanu from the Bengals. The amazing Julio Jones led the league in receptions and yards and probably will again.

Matt Ryan, meanwhile, used to confuse pundits by being nearly unbeatable at home and simply O.K. on the road. Over the last three seasons, he has put those criticisms to rest by becoming rather mediocre no matter where he plays.

• • •

New Orleans Saints The Saints’ Drew Brees led the league in passing yards last year and will now have a new weapon: tight end Coby Fleener from the Colts. On defense, the Rob Ryan era is over, and former Raiders Coach Dennis Allen should improve the lackluster unit.

The team appears on the upswing defensively just in time for Brees to be 37 and dealing with major shoulder problems and a depth chart that has rookie Michael Thomas as his No. 2 wide receiver.

• • •

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Last season for the Buccaneers was not as bad as their record indicated: They were 6-6 before a late-season swoon. Jameis Winston should improve in his sophomore season after a promising start, and the offensive-minded Dirk Koetter has replaced Lovie Smith as head coach.

Those lauding Mike Evans’s breakout season may want to note that while he caught 74 passes last season, the team had to throw to him 148 times to accomplish that.

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Running back Todd Gurley (left) and quarterback Jared Goff will attempt to revitalize the Los Angeles Rams’ offense this season as the team markets itself to a new city.CreditMark J. Terrill/Associated Press

N.F.C. West

Arizona Cardinals The veteran Carson Palmer had an electrifying career season for the Cardinals, and the offense was almost unstoppable in a 13-3 season. Linebacker Chandler Jones arrives from the Patriots, and the rookie defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche earned rave reviews at Mississippi.

Palmer got the first playoff win of his career last season and followed it up by looking as bad as possible in a crushing loss to the Carolina Panthers the next week. He is also 36, and the team has no reasonable plan for what they will do when he begins his inevitable decline.

• • •

Seattle Seahawks In his fourth season, Russell Wilson put it all together for the Seahawks and had the league’s highest quarterback rating. The defense was incredible as usual, allowing the fewest points in the league.

Wilson will be going without Marshawn Lynch, and while Beast Mode was injured or ineffective for most of last season, the reality that the heart and soul of Seattle’s offense is truly gone will sink in at some point and could affect the team’s attitude, at the very least.

• • •

Los Angeles Rams The Rams return to Los Angeles for a fresh start and a fresh outlook. The new quarterback Jared Goff appears to have the talent of other No. 1 overall draft picks like Cam Newton, Eli and Peyton Manning and John Elway.

All Goff has to do is be the face of the franchise for a team that is trying to sell itself to Los Angeles while he also learns to be an N.F.L. quarterback and tries to figure out how to best use dynamic but unconventional receivers like Tavon Austin and Pharoh Cooper. Should be easy.

• • •

San Francisco 49ers It did not work out for Chip Kelly in Philadelphia, but with nowhere to go but up for the 49ers, he can unleash his explosive Oregon offense and reinvent the league the way he was born to.

Trent Baalke, the team’s general manager, never seemed comfortable sharing the credit for San Francisco’s success with Jim Harbaugh, and he fired Jim Tomsula for failing to succeed with a roster that had largely been gutted. So Kelly can seemingly look forward to being undermined if the 49ers win and fired if they lose.